News

Grant holders get together for learning event in Nairobi

More than 24 not-for-profit organisations and charities came together last week for the UK aid East Africa Learning Event in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two-day event, organised by the Department for International Development (DFID) and MannionDaniels, brought together a wide-range of grant holders from both UK Aid Direct and UK Aid Match discuss and share their experiences on a variety of subjects, such as sustainability, disability inclusion and project management.

The DFID and MannionDaniels’ teams took the opportunity to visit 14 UK aid-funded projects in Kenya and Uganda from both the UK Aid Direct and UK Aid Match portfolios, including Trocaire, Friends of Kipkelion and Farm Africa.

WasteAid appeal tackles plastic pollution in the developing world

WasteAid launched its Widening the Net appeal today (1 May) to raise funds to develop recycling centres in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Plastic pollution is a major problem for most low-income countries, where very little waste is managed. WasteAid trains disadvantaged women, young people and people with disabilities to transform the problem of waste into an economic opportunity.

The Widening the Net programme will initially be used to train marginalised people in Douala, Cameroon, where there is no formal rubbish collection service. Plastic waste litters the ground and coastline, with tonnes of material reaching the sea every day. As a UK Aid Match appeal, all donations from the British public will be matched by the UK government.

WasteAid’s plastics specialist Pierre Kamsouloum says: “This programme will build on my own personal experience of turning plastic bags into paving tiles. Recycling plastic has helped me out of poverty, and I am very happy to share these skills to help other young people.”

UK government to double donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef

The UK government has announced it is matching public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef, enabling the organisation to train midwives in Sierra Leone and Zambia.

“Since 2012, our partnership with Soccer Aid for Unicef has saved lives across the world’s poorest countries by reducing child mortality and helping transform maternal and new born care for more than 4.5 million people,” says Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt.* “By teaming up again this year, we will be helping even more children to play, live healthy lives and reach their full potential.”

As well as newly trained midwives, the funds will also help parents and communities understand the best nutrition for their children; support the treatment of malnutrition and train pre-school teachers to help build early learning centres, so children can learn and thrive in the critical early years.

Find out more about the appeal.

 

*Please note: This is an old article. The current Secretary of State for International Development is Rory Stewart.